Nathan p



(No Model.)

' NJ. REED. WHIFFLETREE HOOK.

Patented Jan. 3, 1888.

351; SHOT/14mg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN F. REED, OF HYDEPARK, VERMONT.

WH'lFFLETREE-HOOK.

EPECIPICA'IION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,011, dated January 3, 1888.

I Application filed November 3, 1887. Serial No. 954,183; (No model.)

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHANF. REED, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Hyde Park, in the county of Lamoille and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Whiffietree-I-Iooks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the'accompanying' drawings. I

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in singletree-hooks; and it consists in certain novel features of construction, whereby I am enabled to produce a simple, durable, positive, and economical device for the purpose, as will be more fully hereinafter stated, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In describing the device reference is had to the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of one end of singletree with my improved hook applied thereto; Fig. 2, a similar View showing the parts detached and in a position to be placed upon the singletree; and Fig. 3, a sectional view of the singletree with my hook applied, showing the method of removing the ring of the trace.

In the drawings, the letter A designates a portion ofa singletree of the usual construction and having the reduced extension or end B, forming the annular shoulder a. Upon this reduced portion B is slipped the guard collar 0, which is adapted to fit the said extension and abut against the shoulder a. This collar is provided on its rear side with the two backwardly-eurved guard-li'igs D, which are formed longitudinally of the collar and project, respectively, upwardly and downwardly with respect thereto. These guardlugs are formed integrally with the collar. The collar has formed in its outer edge the longitudinal slot E, for a purpose which will be presently stated. Upon the end of the extension B is placed the hook-collar F,which abuts closely against the outer edge of the guard-collar, and is provided with the projection or extension G, which fitsinto the slot in the guard-collar, thereby locking the two parts togetherand preventing their independent movement upon the extension or tenon of the singletree, as is clearly shown. This hookcollar has formed integrally with it on its rear side a rightangle hook, H, preferably tapering in form, and having its longitudinal portion bdirected inwardly with respect to the singletree and running practically parallel thereto. This horizontal portion b of the hook runs parallel with the projections or lugs D of the guard-collar and directly to the rear and between them, it being approximately equally distant from each lug, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. The two collars may be secured upon the singletree by any suitable device or devices. The ring of the trace is slipped over the hook H, as shown in Fig. 3, and is turned forward over the end of the singletree to the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It will thus be seen that by reason of the loca tion of the rearwardly-extending guard-lugs D with respect to the angular hook H the ring of the trace will be positively attached to the singletree, it being necessary in order to remove the trace-ring to turn it around to the rear of the singletree to the position shown in Fig. 3. Casual displacement or disengagement of the trace is effectually prevented by this device.

I wish it understood that I do not limit myself to the use of singletree-hooks, as it is evi- Y dent that my invention is capable ofother applications than this.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the singletree with the guard-collar thereon, provided with guardlugs D, and the hook-collar, also placed on the singletree and provided with the angular hook H, the longitudinal portion of which projects inwardly from the end of the singletree and parallel to and between the guard-lugs D, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the singletrce with i the guard-collar provided with the two guardlugs on its rear side, and also with the slot in its outer edge, and the hook-collar provided with the angular hook H and the extension I, which latter projects into the slot in the outer edge ofthe guard-collar, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofl affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, NATHAN F. REED.

Witnesses:

G. H. HERRICK, H. A. WATERMAN. 

